It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No, It's Super Influencer!
Ok, so these crazy people at FlipperSplash have told you that YOU are an Influencer (guilty). Now you’re all, “I didn’t even know I was an influencer – I for sure don’t know how to be a good one!”. It’s totally ok. DON’T PANIC. You got this and we’ll help.
First, let’s revisit what exactly an influencer is … ya know, just for good measure. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary,
“Marketing is a person or group that has the ability to influencer the behavior or opinions of others: The influencer is the individual whose effect on the purchase decision is in some way significant or authoritative”.
In non-Cambridge terms, an influencer is someone who causes their friends, followers, whoever to buy stuff or try stuff or read about stuff, etc. Did you tell someone a movie was good? Did they then go and see said movie? Guess what, you influenced that movie ticket purchase. You are an influencer. It’s just that simple.
Now that I’ve reiterated what being an influencer really is, let’s talk about making you the best influencer out there!
The beauty of Influencer Marketing lies in it’s transparency. You influence purchasing decisions for people who trust you. People who know you. People who have similar interests to you. REMEMBER THAT. Choose to only work with brands that coincide with the things you are already interested in. If you are afraid of heights, your followers aren’t going to believe that you tried and then endorsed a sky diving company. Let’s be real – give your followers some credit. Influencers who are selective with their brand partners and put their relationships with their followers above all else are more trustworthy. More credible – and credibility is key. Choose your brands wisely.
Which leads me to my next point. We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again – the goal of FlipperSplash is to facilitate long term relationships, not one night stands. By choosing brands that coincide with your life and preferences, you open the door to a long term relationship with that brand. (Hint: that means VIP status to your fav brands! #winning) Ready for an example?
I love Crave Food Truck. The food is fresh and unique and I have never gotten a meal that didn’t come with a smile from the incredible staff. In St. Augustine, 90% of my friends have similar taste in food. Crave chooses me as an influencer. They have a new menu item for me to try (YES!). I try the item, post about it and pass along a personalized discount code to my local followers. As a result, 10 people try Crave for the first time! Crave is stoked on the results from my campaign. Moving forward, each time they have a brand new menu item, they reach out to me first to try it and share it with my followers. How awesome is that?! All because I chose to work with a brand that I already love and believe in. Your passion shows through. Know that.
Now, while we’re on the topic of campaigns, let’s address my final point. You earned the trust of your friends and followers all on your own. You know what they react to and you know your posting style. Brands should respect your creative freedom when posting – however, in order to ensure a successful campaign, you must fully understand the focus and desired outcome of the campaign. If Crave asked me to try their new Caribbean Jerk Garbanzo Bean Bowl and promote it and I choose to post a really awesome picture of the Crave Tuna Wrap I took last week instead, I CLEARLY went against the premise of the campaign. Sure, I might get lots of engagement from my artistic, staged tuna wrap photo, but it surely didn’t help promote sales for the bean bowl. Engagement and reach are great for any brand, yes, but in order to be a good influencer, one that brands want a long term relationship with, you have to work hand-in-hand with the brand and match their goals. If their campaign objectives don’t fit your persona, that’s ok! Sit this one out. They will appreciate your credibility and transparency even more.
As you start to feel comfortable in your new role as an influencer, be sure to follow us on Facebook for lots of tips and tricks on Influencer Marketing! Remember, you got this.